The Porcupine Fire
Text from the plaque
In the summer of 1911, when the Porcupine gold rush was at its height the weather was hot and dry. On July 11, gale-force winds from the southwest whipped individual bush fires into a 16 km sea of flames that swiftly engulfed the drought-parched forest. The fire-storm swept through mining camps, razed the towns of South Porcupine and Pottsville, and partially destroyed Golden City (Porcupine) and Porquis Junction. Many people fled into Porcupine Lake to escape the flames. The blaze laid waste to about 200,000 hectares of forest and killed at least seventy-one people. Communities throughout Ontario responded generously with aid, and in a remarkably short time the towns were rebuilt and the mines back in operation.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The District of Cochrane
The City of Timmins
In Porcupine, at the White Waterfront Conservation Area
at the shore, beyond the eastern end of Shamrock Avenue
Note: The plaque was at another location when the first photo was taken in 2005.
N 48 28.757 W 81 12.199
Recorded June 2017. Check current access before visiting.
More information
Visitors' notes
February 22, 2014
My Father, the late W.G. 'Bill' Smith, long time Councillor in the former Township of Tisdale and a long time Manager of the former Marshall-Eccelstone's Hardware Store in South Porcupine was a survivor of the great 1911 Fire. My Dad after retirement moved to Chatham, Ontario and died in Chatham at the age of 85. He is buried in the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham, along with his wife, my Mother Margaret Smith. Donald Smith, Chatham
November 10, 2009
umm... i really dont care because i wasnt alive at the time but i feel bad for the people who died or was in emmense pain... your truly Sara Millette at r.ross.beattie
August 11, 2009
The Plaque has moved to White Water Front Pocupine Kingsmen Park at the end of Bloor Avenue.